A southwestern Virginia lawman, with an extensive background as a school resource officer, in community policing, rural law enforcement and administration has been selected by Gov. Bob McDonnell to serve on the newly-created Task Force on School and Campus Safety.

Tazewell County Sheriff Brian Hieatt is one of two sheriffs that McDonnell included in the 45-member task force that the governor asked to “review school safety, including established policies and procedures, crisis and emergency management plans, threat assessment protocols, as well as best practices and identify resource challenges,” according to McDonnell’s press release that identified the task force members.

“The governor asked the Virginia Sheriff’s Association to submit some names of potential candidates for the task force,” Hieatt said. “My name was among the group of four that the association submitted. The governor selected Sheriff Mike Chapman of Loudoun County and me. I consider this a great honor. I would like to thank Gov. McDonnell and the Virginia Sheriff’s Association for their support and for recommending me to this important task force.” Hieatt pledged to work hard to represent Tazewell County and all of Southwest Virginia.